SHOUT Festival with Eric Scutaro of Queer Side are offering free voguing and waaking workshops from March at Ace Dance & Music, Birmingham. The dance classes aim to create “the foundations for having a ballroom community in Birmingham,” explains an Instagram post from SHOUT Festival, “This project is the first step to a new generation of voguers in the city.”
The workshops are open to dancers of any level from beginners to those more versed in these forms of movement; “These classes provide a chance to learn and develop your movement.”
The workshops will be led by Venezuelan choreographer, dance performer and activist, Eric Scutaro. With over 16 years experience, Eric has been a pioneer in his country in Waacking and Voguing, reportedly even introducing the word ‘queer’ to Venezuela. Since becoming a refugee in the UK, Eric has continued their work in Birmingham, becoming the founder and director of Queer Side; a CIC created to give visibility to Queer artists, and create free Queer arts events.
The event description for the workshops explains: “Waacking and Voguing were born under disco balls to the pulse of music. Concerned with freeing the body and affirming the self, waacking and voguing developed sub-culturally and gave people a chance to escape an often-hostile outside world, providing a space where people could dance, reinvent themselves, and be exactly who they wanted to be. Through movement, imitation, and a good dose of humour, voguing and waacking offered ways of reclaiming self, the body, desire and freedom.
“Voguing was born out of New York's ballroom scene. During the balls performers and dancers would imitate poses they'd seen across fashion magazine spreads.
“Waacking emerged from Los Angeles' gay clubs and was inspired by the stars of Hollywood's golden era.
“The two styles became popular in Black and Latinx LGBTQIA+ communities in the 60s and 70s. Both offered a space for free expression and personal liberty in marginalised communities that had to cope with the layered forms of socio-political and economic domination and discrimination.”
Voguing and Waaking workshops with Eric will be held on Sundays at 10.30am including 23rd and 30th March, 13th and 27th April, 11th and 25th May, 8th and 22nd June, and 6th July. Classes are free to attend, but you will need to register for your chosen date online.
Location: ACE Dance & Music 54-57 Floodgate St, Deritend, Birmingham B5 5SL
Accessibility: Accessible Toilets, Step Free Access, Wheelchair Accessible. If you have any access requirements, please get in touch with the organisers so that they can ensure Eric's teaching is inclusive of everyone in the room.
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